A RAFT of promising young Scottish boxers were amongst those celebrating their share of a £312,500 fund which they feel can give them a fighting chance of landing medals at April’s Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. Fighers Sean Lazzerini, Lee McGregor and Aqueel Ahmed, who are all in action at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Hamburg later this month, are amongst the 65 Scottish athletes with the potential to make the podium at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast or with winter Olympic and Paralympic ambitions for PyeongChang who have been earmarked for individual sportscotland Athlete Personal Awards (SAPAs). The initiative, which was introduced in the lead-up to London 2012 and Sochi and Glasgow in 2014, has helped over 120 high performance athletes claim awards of almost £1.5 million. Other athletes receiving funding include Great Britain distance runners Callum Hawkins and Andrew Butchart, and badminton’s Kirsty Gilmour.
Speaking at the Boxing Scotland High Performance Centre in Bridgeton, Lazzerini welcomed the extra cash. “The support I receive from Boxing Scotland and the sportscotland institute of sport has had a big impact on my training and competition, but this will make a huge difference to me as I focus on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games,” said the Glasgow fighter. “The world championships later this month which will be a fantastic opportunity to see where I am against boxers who will also be in the Gold Coast next year. I know I can compete at that level and the SAPA award gives me the security I need to deliver when it really counts.”
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